'We don't want it in our village'- Bilsborrow residents outrage over 13-unit industrial park plans
“This is without doubt the wrong location for this proposed location and it certainly won’t be in keeping with the local village profile.”
A planning appeal set to take place next week for a 13-unit industrial complex in Bilsborrow, near Garstang, has sparked outrage amongst residents.
The major application, initially lodged in June 2022, would see the construction of a new 13-unit business park off Garstang Road, along with necessary access roads and parking.
Wyre Council rejected the initial application in September 2025 after two years of consultations after an application committee decided the proposal would result in ‘unjustified development in the open countryside which would cause harm to the rural character and appearance of the area.’
Despite hundreds of objections from local MPs, Councillors and residents the application will now begin an appeal process on Wednesday 12 August at the Civic Centre in Poulton.
James Tomlinson, County Councillor for Wyre Rural East and Bilsborrow resident, said: “As a rural community we must fight back against the constant over development of our countryside, once these green fields are gone they are gone, lost from important crop and livestock production.
“This is without doubt the wrong location for this proposed location and it certainly won’t be in keeping with the local village profile.
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“The local authority rejected the application after 3 years on good solid ground, and that decision should be respected. If the application was to go through, there's issues.
“Obviously, traffic and then articulated waggons coming into the village is a major concern, especially to the residents. The other issue is, there's a veteran oak tree in the field that has a protection order on it and it's in a flood zone.”
The proposed location for the industrial unit is on land off Garstang Road (A6) on the southern edge of Bilsborrow, adjacent to the existing industrial estate and close to Junction 1 of the M55.
Wyre Council have allocated a two day slot for the hearing to take place.
Cllr Tomlinson added: “The main problem is the fact that the character and appearance will clearly not fit in our rural village. I’ll be attending the appeal with quite a few of the other residents, we’ve had several meetings and have really come together as a community on this. We don’t want it in our village.”